Best of 2012: Carolina Panthers

Gross, 32, was the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2003 and has two Pro Bowls (2008, 2010) on his resume. He has a base salary of $8.7 million in 2013 and $6.7 million in 2014 (the final year of his contract) As is, Gross will count $11.7 million against the cap in 2013 -- the second-highest on the Panthers behind Charles Johnson's $13 million. The restructured deals for Kalil and Olsen did not subtract from their overall pay. Nakamura, who lost his starting job, took a $500,000 hit on his re-worked contract.

If those are indicators, Gross might have some money moved around and/or converted to a signing bonus. Either way, Gross doesn't want to go anywhere else.

"I've given 10 years to the Panthers, and the Panthers have given 10 years to me," said Gross, who has missed just nine games in 10 years and is the franchise leader in career starts. "And nobody wants this organization to win more than I do.

"I'd love to be a part of the equation for success in 2013. This is just something that has to get worked out."